U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher has celebrated her first start for the Bristol Bears by powering over for a try in a 41-31 victory at the Exeter Chiefs.

Ilona Maher’s impact on women’s rugby in England had been significant even before she had stepped on a rugby pitch in the country. On Sunday came the American’s time to make a telling contribution on the field of play as she scored a sensational 70-yard try in her first start for her new team.

U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher is set to make her first start for the Bristol Bears on January 12 at the Exeter Chiefs.

Ilona Maher made her debut on the pitch last weekend with her new UK rugby team, the Bristol Bears. The U.S. Bronze medalist and Dancing With the Stars runner-up entered the Bears vs. Gloucester-Hartpury match as a sub in the 61st minute,

Olympic rugby bronze medalist Ilona Maher made her debut on the pitch in England on Sunday, Jan. 5 — and it resulted in the Bristol Bears having to change stadiums to accommodate her fans.

BRISTOL, England (AP) — U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher made her debut for the Bristol Bears women's team in front of a record home crowd of 9,240 fans on Sunday. But Maher, "the most followed rugby player on the planet,” could not prevent Bristol from losing 40-17 to defending champion Gloucester-Hartpury in a Premiership Women’s Rugby match.

Ilona Maher will make first Bristol Bears start vs Exeter on Sunday in Premiership Womens Rugby; Last week she came off the bench vs Gloucester-Hartpury in front of record crowd of 9,240; Maher is the most followed rugby player in the world on social media,

Ticket sales have broken a record ahead of U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher making her debut for the Bristol Bears women's team.